Much of Mariupol lay in ruins, and tens of thousands of people had been killed in a city where more than half the pre-war population of some 450,000 have fled. The city was a key target for Russian troops given its strategic location on the Sea of Azov. The bombing, believed to have been ordered by Mizintsev, killed 300 people - the deadliest attack against civilians since the war began. The world watched in horror as Russian forces bombed a maternity hospital on March 9 last year, killing a pregnant woman and her baby, and wounding at least 17 people.Ī week later, Russian aircraft again dropped missiles on civilian areas - this time on the Donetsk Regional Theatre in Mariupol, which was housing hundreds of civilians and had 'children' written in large white letters outside. Mizintsev oversaw the ruthless and brutal three-month siege of Mariupol, which saw the city levelled and hundreds of civilians killed in missile attacks. The dictator has conducted repeated purges of his top commanders amid a succession of failures in the war in Ukraine. There is speculation there may be wider changes among Putin's top brass. 'The exact reasons are not yet clear, just as it is not clear whether this is removal from office, a suspension or a transfer to a new place of service,' Sladkov said. Last year there were rumours Mizintsev could threaten Shoigu's role as defence minister. How, what, for what reason - it is difficult to guess. Mizintsev's dismissal was reported today by Russian state TV military correspondent Alexander Sladkov.īut he said the reasons for his axing as deputy defence minister remain unclear.
Mizintsev, known as 'Putin's favourite', replaced General Dmitry Bulgakov who was blamed for a string of failings in the Russian war against Ukraine.
Pictured: The destroyed theatre in Mariupol on April 10, 2022 Russian aircraft again dropped missiles on the Donetsk Regional Theatre in Mariupol, which was housing hundreds of civilians and had 'children' written in large white letters outside.
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